There have been some highly erroneous and slanderous newspaper and web articles published that I would like to briefly address and comment on. But first, I think it is important to start with the following topics and standards:
One definition of Yellow Journalism is: "Biased opinion masquerading as objective fact."
In practice, Yellow Journalism involves a cheap sensationalism in reporting "style", employing mis-representation, printing distorted stories and misleading images -- all for the sole/ultimate purpose of selling newspapers and arousing general public opinion &/or interest. In some cases, yellow journalism or tabloid-reporting style is used for getting increased attention for specific personal or organizational reasons and motivations -- here, promoting a strongly-biased and negative perspective -- yellow journalism certainly does not employ pure, "for truth" values in its reporting techniques.
The internet needs a way to help people separate rumour from real science: so says the creator of the World Wide Web. Sir
Tim Berners-Lee said he was increasingly worried about the way the web
has been used to spread disinformation. Sir Tim said that there needed
to be new systems that would give websites a label for trustworthiness
once they had been proved reliable sources. Fortunately,
there are clear guidelines and values in place for communication
purposes and media outlets: Below are the clear standards and
guidelines for true professional reporting as well as for fairness and
accuracy in reporting via newspapers and other media outlets.......
The following information and ethical standard statements are taken from the Society of Professional Journalists.[1]
1. WHAT ARE THE ETHICS OF JOURNALISM? Journalists should: (a)
Test the accuracy of information from all sources and
exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never
permissible. (b)
Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is
entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability. (c)
Always question sources’ motives before promising
anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for
information. Keep promises. (d)
Make certain that headlines, news teases and
promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and
quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight
incidents out of context. (e)
Never distort the content of news photos or video.
Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages
and photo illustrations. (f)
Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events.
If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it. (g)
Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of
gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield
information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as
part of the story. (h)
Never plagiarize. (i)
Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the
human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so. (j)
Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing
those values on others. (k)
Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion,
ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or
social status. (l)
Support the open exchange of views, even views they
find repugnant. (m)
Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial
sources of information can be equally valid. (n)
Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting.
Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context. (a)
Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely
by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and
inexperienced sources or subjects. (b)
Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or
photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief. (c)
Recognize that gathering and reporting information may
cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance. (d)
Recognize that private people have a greater right to
control information about themselves than do public officials and others who
seek power, influence or attention. (e)
Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion
into anyone’s privacy. (f)
Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity. (g)
Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the
formal filing of charges. Journalists should: (a)
Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived. (b)
Remain free of associations and activities that may
compromise integrity or damage credibility. (c)
Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special
treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office
and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic
integrity. (d)
Disclose unavoidable conflicts. (e)
Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with
power accountable. (f)
Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special
interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage. (g)
Be wary of sources offering information for favors or
money; avoid bidding for news. Goal-Standard #4. Be Accountable: Journalists are accountable to their
readers, listeners, viewers and each other. Journalists should: (a)
Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue
with the public over journalistic conduct. (b)
Encourage the public to voice grievances against the
news media. (c)
Admit mistakes and correct them promptly. (d)
Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news
media. (e)
Abide by the same high standards to which they hold
others.
Goal-Standard #1. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's
credibility: Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in
gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Goal-Standard # 2. Minimize Harm: Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects
and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.
Journalists should:
Goal-Standard # 3. Act Independently: Journalists
should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to
know.
[1] Society of Professional Journalists, 1996. The SPJ Code of Ethics is
voluntarily embraced by thousands of writers, editors and other news
professionals. ____________________________________________________________________________________MOre Wouldn't
it be nice, as well as be really truly "fair and balanced" news
reporting, if a real standard of veracity and values was always put into
practice by our news media, editors, reporters, organizations,
government representatives, etc? -- And, isn't this what we, as
citizens and the public, really should expect and require from our public
service figures and mass media outlets? One of the first things I share with my (research) students is: Check your sources thoroughly. Don't use "anonymous" sources, or get your "facts" from "Internet sites" only.
Use peer-reviewed, reliable references, and find accurate evidence to
support your research topic, along with using and presenting balanced
and open-minded findings and conclusions . This is part of what I teach
my students early in their curriculum as an educator and for true
academic purposes and practices. And yet.........Here we go......This is often what we get...... Newspaper HEADLINES are written to "grab your attention" -- are designed to make you read on, and yet are not necessarily based on balanced facts &/or true/ unbiased information. Watch some of the news networks and read some of the headlined titles of newspaper and tabloid magazines to clearly see these programmed/edited headlines. The SCRIPT and type is BIG & BOLD. The sentences are usually short and to a point. The words are provocative, suggestive, even bordering on slander! They certainly have a "spin" on their "story"! -- Hey, but that's what it takes for many reporters, editors, newspapers & magazines to "reach" an audience in an effort to try to gain some sort of a rating in today's mass mediated business world. "Newspaper Editor guilty of unethical reporting!" "Silly student prank causes lecturer trouble..." "Hate group" at the source of recent malicious intent..... +++ --WATCH THIS SPACE!!!-- [More on this topic and others coming soon!] ______________________________________________________________________________ Barry Gerard Prendergast -- See my other web links: www.linkedin.com/in/barrygerardprendergast --DOES THIS GET
YOUR
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